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In this study, the influence of substrate temperature of the RF (Radio frequency) deposition system under a high vacuum on the characteristics of the deposited niobium oxide (Nb2O5) thin films was investigated. The X-Ray diffraction (XRD) measurements showed a polycrystalline orthorhombic structure for the pure Nb2O5 phase. The crystallinity was enhanced and the crystalline size was enlarged with the deposition temperature causing to a reduction in the lattice strain. The surface morphology investigated by scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) shows the uniformity of the prepared thin films over the entire surface. Increasing the deposition temperature causes an increase in the oxidizing degree. The process might reduce the electron vacancies. The optical properties show that the band edges become sharper with an increase in the substrate temperature. The energy bandgap values increased with the deposition temperature. The response of the prepared gas sensor is highly affected by working temperature, particle size, surface roughness, and oxygen vacancies. The maximum sensitivity appeared at 250 °C working temperature is 118.2 against H2S gas for the sample prepared at room temperature (RT) at 160 W RF power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is one of the major noncommunicable diseases, responsible for millions of deaths every year worldwide. Though various cancer detection and treatment modalities are available today, many deaths occur owing to its late-stage detection and metastatic nature. Noninvasive detection using luminescence-based imaging tools is considered one of the promising techniques owing to its low cost, high sensitivity, and brightness. Moreover, these tools are unique and valuable as they can detect even the slightest changes in the cellular microenvironment. To achieve this, a fluorescent probe with strong tumor uptake and high spatial and temporal resolution, especially with high water solubility, is highly demanded. Recently, several water-soluble molecules with emission windows in the visible (400–700 nm), first near-infrared (NIR-I, 700–1000 nm), and second near-infrared (NIR-II, 1000–1700 nm) windows have been reported in literature. This review highlights recently reported water-soluble small organic fluorophores/dyes with applications in cancer diagnosis and therapeutics. We systematically highlight and describe the key concepts, structural classes of fluorophores, strategies for imparting water solubility, and applications in cancer therapy and diagnosis, i.e., theragnostics. We discuss examples of water-soluble fluorescent probes based on coumarin, xanthene, boron–dipyrromethene (BODIPY), and cyanine cores. Some other emerging classes of dyes based on carbocyclic and heterocyclic cores are also discussed. Besides, emerging molecular engineering methods to obtain such fluorophores are discussed. Finally, the opportunities and challenges in this research area are also delineated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This trend of research deals with preparation of mesoporous TiO2 by a simple approach using sol–gel method by various surfactant templates. The designed nano-adsorbents TiO2 were featured by various characterization methods of Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, surface area analysis (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller), transmission electron microscope, and scanning electron microscope. These obtained nano-adsorbents are examined as functional adsorbents for lead ions up taking from contaminated soil specimens. The results presented the effect of ionic and nonionic surfactant templates on the texture of the three types of mesoporous TiO2 nano-adsorbents. The effects of the temperature, pH, and amount of nano-adsorbents TiO2 on the adsorption process were studied. The optimum conditions of 25 °C, 5, and 0.1 g were obtained for temperature, pH, and amount of adsorbents, respectively. The obtained results revealed that about 97.6, 99.1, and 95.3% of total adsorptive capacity were obtained for Ti C, Ti S, and Ti P, respectively, at 100 mg L−1 of Pb(II) ions in soil solutions during 120 min. The adsorption isotherm and the thermodynamic parameters were further illustrated. These findings recommended these nano-adsorbent TiO2 as adequate adsorbents in remediation process of Pb-enriched soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comparative study between the catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO: Fe(III)-Y zeolite/HO) and photooxidation (PO: UV/HO) of three different azo dyes-namely, reactive yellow, reactive red, and methyl orange-was conducted. Compared to CWPO, PO demonstrated higher initial reaction rates and final conversions. The contributions of HO, UV, UV/HO, Fe-Y zeolite, and Fe-Y zeolite/HO to the decolorization of reactive yellow were investigated and the results showed that treatment with UV/HO was the most effective process for the color removal. The effect of [HO], UV irradiation power, [Fe-Y zeolite], and the reusability of the catalyst were also studied. The catalyst was found to be reusable, but with loss in its catalytic activity. An optimum [HO] existed in both the PO and CWPO processes. However, this was higher in the latter process. The extent of decolorization increased as the UV irradiation power and [Fe-Y zeolite] increased, but there was a limit in the second case. In addition, the decolorization kinetics of the reactive yellow in both processes were investigated. It was concluded that PO followed an apparent first order kinetic model while CWPO followed the Chu kinetic model. Furthermore, a pseudo-second order rate law, which could be used in continuous flow reactor design equations, was proposed and verified to describe the CWPO rate of reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:We evaluated the expression of CD46, CD55 and CD59 membrane-bound complement-regulatory proteins (mCRPs) in primary uterine serous carcinoma (USC) and the ability of small interfering RNA (siRNA) against these mCRPs to sensitise USC to complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) and antibody (trastuzumab)-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) in vitro.Methods:Membrane-bound complement-regulatory proteins expression was evaluated using real-time PCR (RT-PCR) and flow cytometry, whereas Her2/neu expression and c-erbB2 gene amplification were assessed using immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry and fluorescent in-situ hybridisation. The biological effect of siRNA-mediated knockdown of mCRPs on HER2/neu-overexpressing USC cell lines was evaluated in CDC and ADCC 4-h chromium-release assays.Results:High expression of mCRPs was found in USC cell lines when compared with normal endometrial cells (P<0.05). RT-PCR and FACS analyses demonstrated that anti-mCRP siRNAs were effective in reducing CD46, CD55 and CD59 expression on USC (P<0.05). Baseline complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) against USC cell lines was low (mean±s.e.m.=6.8±0.9%) but significantly increased upon CD55 and CD59 knockdown (11.6±0.8% and 10.7±0.9%, respectively, P<0.05). Importantly, in the absence of complement, both CD55 and CD59, but not CD46, knockdowns significantly augmented ADCC against USC overexpressing Her2/neu.Conclusion:Uterine serous carcinoma express high levels of the mCRPs CD46, CD55 and CD59. Small interfering RNA inhibition of CD55 and CD59, but not CD46, sensitises USC to both CDC and ADCC in vitro, and if specifically targeted to tumour cells, may significantly increase trastuzumab-mediated therapeutic effect in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Uterine serous papillary adenocarcinoma (USPC) is a rare but highly aggressive variant of endometrial cancer. Pertuzumab is a new humanised monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting the epidermal growth factor type II receptor (HER2/neu). We evaluated pertuzumab activity separately or in combination with trastuzumab against primary USPC cell lines expressing different levels of HER2/neu.Methods: Six USPC cell lines were assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC), flow cytometry, and real-time PCR for HER2/neu expression. c-erbB2 gene amplification was evaluated using fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH). Sensitivity to pertuzumab and trastuzumab-induced antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) was evaluated in 5 h chromium release assays. Pertuzumab cytostatic activity was evaluated using proliferation-based assays.Results: Three USPC cell lines stained heavily for HER2/neu by IHC and showed amplification of the c-erbB2 gene by FISH. The remaining FISH-negative USPCs expressed HER2/neu at 0/1+ levels. In cytotoxicity experiments against USPC with a high HER2/neu expression, pertuzumab and trastuzumab were similarly effective in inducing strong ADCC. The addition of complement-containing plasma and interleukin-2 increased the cytotoxic effect induced by both mAbs. In low HER2/neu USPC expressors, trastuzumab was more potent than pertuzumab in inducing ADCC. Importantly, in this setting, the combination of pertuzumab with trastuzumab significantly increased the ADCC effect induced by trastuzumab alone (P=0.02). Finally, pertuzumab induced a significant inhibition in the proliferation of all USPC cell lines tested, regardless of their HER-2/neu expression.Conclusion: Pertuzumab and trastuzumab induce equally strong ADCC and CDC in FISH-positive USPC cell lines. Pertuzumab significantly increases tratuzumab-induced ADCC against USPC with a low HER2/neu expression and may represent a new therapeutic agent in patients harbouring advanced/recurrent and/or refractory USPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary:Our objective was to evaluate, probably for the first time, the impact of CD34 subsets on engraftment kinetics in allogeneic PBSC transplantation (PBSCT). PBSC graft components were analyzed in 62 cases for the absolute count/kg of total CD34+and the following subsets: DR-and+, CD71+/-, CD38+/-, CD33+/-and CD61+/-. Time to ANC>0.5 and>1×109/l and platelets>20 and>50×109/l was reported. The median value for each parameter was used to discriminate rapid from slow engraftment. Four parameters showed significant predictive power of early neutrophil engraftment, namely CD34+/DR-(P=0.002), CD34+/38-(P=0.02), CD34+/CD61-(P=0.04) and total CD34+cell dose (P=0.04). Four parameters showed significant predictive power of early platelet engraftment, namely CD34+/CD61+(P=0.02), CD34+/CD38-and total CD34+cell dose (P=0.04) and CD34+/CD71-(P=0.05). Comparing patients who received>to those who received

Five patients, three males and two females, with angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy (AIL) are described. The two who received steroids had no response and died 2 and 6 months later. The three patients who received vincristine, adriamycin and prednisolone (VAP) went into remission early and are still in remission with a follow-up of 22-35 months. It is concluded that VAP is effective therapy in AIL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heart failure (HF) is a rising global cardiovascular epidemic driven by aging and chronic inflammation. As elderly populations continue to increase, precision treatments for age-related cardiac decline are urgently needed. Here we report that cardiac and blood expression of IGFBP7 is robustly increased in patients with chronic HF and in an HF mouse model. In a pressure overload mouse HF model, Igfbp7 deficiency attenuated cardiac dysfunction by reducing cardiac inflammatory injury, tissue fibrosis and cellular senescence. IGFBP7 promoted cardiac senescence by stimulating IGF-1R/IRS/AKT-dependent suppression of FOXO3a, preventing DNA repair and reactive oxygen species (ROS) detoxification, thereby accelerating the progression of HF. In vivo, AAV9-shRNA-mediated cardiac myocyte Igfbp7 knockdown indicated that myocardial IGFBP7 directly regulates pathological cardiac remodeling. Moreover, antibody-mediated IGFBP7 neutralization in vivo reversed IGFBP7-induced suppression of FOXO3a, restored DNA repair and ROS detoxification signals and attenuated pressure-overload-induced HF in mice. Consequently, selectively targeting IGFBP7-regulated senescence pathways may have broad therapeutic potential for HF., (© 2022. The Author(s).)